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For the use of the term "nymph" in biology, see nymph (biology).

For the use of the term "nymph" in terms of fishing, see nymph (fishing).

330px Hylas and the Nymphs by John William Waterhouse

In Greek mythology, a nymph is any member of a large class of female nature spirits, sometimes bound to a particular location or landform. Nymphs often accompanied various gods and goddesses, and were the frequent target of lusty satyrs.

They are personifications of the creative and fostering activities of nature. The Greek word νύμφη has "bride" and "veiled" among its meanings: hence, a married woman, and, in general, one of marriageable age. Others refer the word (and also Latin nubere and German Knospe) to a root expressing the idea of "swelling" (according to Hesychius, one of the meanings of νύμφη is "rose-bud"). The home of the nymphs is on mountains and in groves, by springs and rivers, in valleys and cool grottoes. They are frequently associated with the superior divinities, the huntress Artemis, the prophetic Apollo, the reveller and god of trees DionysusDionysus the name of a god, is occasionally confused with Dionysius the Elder, tyrant of Syracuse. Dionysus (or Dionysos also known as Bacchus in Roman mythology and associated with the Italic Liber , the Greek god of wine, represents not only the intoxic, and with rustic gods such as Pan and HermesDionysus, by Praxiteles Hermes (Greek: 'pile of marker stones'), in Greek mythology, is the god of travelers, shepherds, land travel, orators, literature, cunning, poets, athletics, weights and measures, and thieves, and the messenger from the gods to hum (as the god of shepherds).

1 Nymph classifications

The different species of nymph were distinguished according to the different spheres of nature with which they were connected.

• Land Nymphs
  • Alseid s (glens, groves)
  • AuloniadThe names of the species of the nymphs varied according to their natural abode. The Aulonaid (from the classical Greek ; valley, ravine) was a nymph who could be found in the mountain pastures and vales, often in the company of Pan, the god of nature.s (pastures)
  • DryadDryads (or tree spirits ) are nymphs associated with Greek mythology and Hinduism, which live near, or in, trees. Dryads are born bonded to a specific tree, originally, in the Indo-European Celtic-Druidic culture, an oak tree. Drys in Greek signifies 'oaks (forests)
    • HamadryadHamadryads are Greek mythological beings that live in trees. They are a specific species of dryad, which are a particular type of nymph. Hamadryads are born bonded to a specific tree. If their tree died, the hamadryad associated with it died as well.s (trees)
      • MeliaeIn Greek mythology, the Meliae were nymphs of the manna-ash tree. They appeared from the drops of blood spilled when Cronus castrated Uranus. The most notable of the Meliae is Melia. (manna-ash trees)
  • Ieimakid s (meadows)
  • OreadIn Greek mythology, Oreads (ρος, "mountain") were a type of nymph that lived in mountains. They were associated with Aphrodite. Oreads # Britomartis # Cynosura # Echo # Oenone # Pleiades ## Aero ## Asterope ## Dryope ## Electra ## Maias (mountains, grottoes)
  • Napaeae (mountain valleys, glens)
• Water Nymphs
  • Oceanids (daughters of Oceanus, any water, usually salty)
  • Nereids (daughters of Nereus, the Mediterranean Sea)
  • Naiads (usually fresh water)
    • Crinaeae (fountains)
    • Limnades or Limnatides (lakes)
    • Pegaeae (springs)
    • Potameides (rivers)
    • Eleionomae (marshes)
• Other
  • "Corycian Nymphs" (Classical Muses)